The Morning Sixpack - June 10, 2025
Lawmakers trade stocks amid Trump tariffs; RFK Jr. shakes up CDC; military preps for LA protests; bleach cure groups surge again.
Trump Sends Hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles as Immigration Protests Escalate Nationwide
President Trump has ordered 700 Marines to Los Angeles, marking a rare use of active-duty military on U.S. soil amid ongoing protests sparked by immigration raids. This deployment comes despite strong opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, who argue the military presence only inflames tensions rather than calms them.
About half of the Marines arrived Monday night, with the rest expected Tuesday, joining 4,000 National Guard troops already activated. While the Marines are tasked mainly with guarding federal property, their presence is seen as a significant escalation, provoking legal challenges and political backlash. Newsom called the move “about stroking a dangerous President’s ego,” underscoring the deep division over the response to protests.
Los Angeles has experienced both peaceful demonstrations and violent clashes, with police using tear gas and flash bangs to disperse crowds after some protesters set cars ablaze and threw rocks.
“This isn't about public safety,” Newsom wrote on X. “It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego.” Senator Jack Reed added, “Since our nation's founding, the American people have been perfectly clear: we do not want the military conducting law enforcement on U.S. soil.”
Protests have spread beyond Los Angeles to cities like New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Austin, where police have also confronted demonstrators. The demonstrations are largely a reaction to sweeping immigration crackdowns, which critics say indiscriminately tear families apart.
Trump defended the military deployment on Truth Social, claiming the city would be “burning to the ground right now” without it, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem vowed more immigration operations to come.
Source: Reuters
Trump is a vile idiot with power.
Trump’s Playbook: Declaring Emergencies to Rewrite the Rules of Governance
President Donald Trump has made declaring emergencies central to his presidency, wielding extraordinary powers to bypass traditional government checks and take sweeping actions. From economic tariffs to immigration crackdowns, Trump’s repeated emergency declarations allow him to push policies that many critics argue lack real crises but serve to rally his base and sideline opponents.
Since taking office, Trump has declared eight separate emergencies—far more than recent presidents—covering everything from trade deficits to drug threats. These declarations let him act swiftly, often without congressional approval, setting the stage for controversial moves like deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles amid immigration protests, despite local officials saying the situation was under control.
“It gives him extraordinary powers to not go through the normal machinery and bureaucracy of government,” said Republican strategist Mike Madrid. “The goal is to wield extraordinary powers to get rid of government where he wants, get rid of the bureaucracy where he can — and step on the neck of his opponents.”
Democrats have slammed these moves as authoritarian, with Rep. Zoe Lofgren warning, “If people aren’t concerned about it, they could watch our country’s liberties drip away.” Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters praise his decisive actions, with a recent poll showing majority approval of his deportation policies.
Trump’s use of emergency powers has created a constant sense of crisis, allowing him to cast himself as the country’s fighter and savior while reshaping political and legal landscapes to fit his agenda.
Source: The Washington Post
Trump is clearly the little boy who cried wolf. The problem this time around is that the people in earshot (his cult followers) believe him. Know why? They’re scared little rats.
Homeland Security’s Kristi Noem Pushes Military to Arrest Protesters in Los Angeles
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has formally asked the Pentagon to direct U.S. military forces to detain or arrest “lawbreakers” amid immigration protests in Los Angeles, signaling a significant escalation in federal response. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Noem requested authorization for military involvement in domestic law enforcement—an unusual move that experts warn could foreshadow invocation of the Insurrection Act.
Noem’s letter also sought drone surveillance, weapons, and logistics support for the operation, as the Pentagon deployed 700 Marines to join thousands of National Guard troops attempting to control protests sparked by recent ICE raids. Legal experts note that military involvement in civilian law enforcement is generally barred by federal law, making this request highly contentious.
William Banks, a national security law professor, described the request as “a grave escalation” and said it “may presage the invocation of the Insurrection Act.” Another expert, Stephen Dycus, suggested the military’s presence could be used “to instill fear in the American people and discourage the kinds of protests that are going on in Los Angeles.”
“This isn’t what happens in a democracy, this is what happens in a dictatorship,” said State Senator Scott Wiener, highlighting widespread concerns over military deployment in civilian matters. Noem’s letter further asked for experts to help establish joint military and homeland security procedures for handling future operations.
“At the President’s direction,” Noem wrote, “DHS is seeking to put an end to the migrant invasion and these lawless riots,” underscoring the administration’s hardline stance as protests continue to spread.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
The protests will only turn into riots AFTER the US government starts shooting people.
RFK Jr. Dumps Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee to ‘Restore Public Trust’
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he is removing all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee in a bold move to reshape vaccine policy oversight. The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) plays a critical role by recommending guidelines on vaccine safety, efficacy, and clinical use.
Kennedy said the shake-up prioritizes restoring confidence in vaccine science through transparency and independence, stating, "Today we are prioritizing the restoration of public trust above any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda." He emphasized that the committee will no longer serve as a “rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas.”
Most current members were appointed under the Biden administration, with appointments extending through 2028, effectively limiting Trump-era influence until now. Kennedy’s decision clears the way for a new slate of members focused on “public health and evidence-based medicine.”
The move signals a significant shift in how vaccine recommendations will be guided amid ongoing debates over vaccine mandates and safety perceptions in the U.S. The committee’s reformation is expected to generate both support and controversy as new appointments are made.
Source: ABC7 New York
Brainworm Bobby has a serious case of dementia.
RFK Jr. Sparks Revival of Dangerous Chlorine Dioxide ‘Cure’ Community with Subtle Support
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s references to chlorine dioxide have energized online groups pushing toxic bleach as a cure-all, despite no credible scientific backing and serious health risks. Since Kennedy mentioned the substance during his Senate confirmation hearing, social media groups advocating its use for conditions from autism to cancer have surged in activity, hoping his leadership will legitimize their cause.
Chlorine dioxide, marketed under names like Miracle Mineral Solution, has long been promoted as a remedy for ailments including malaria, HIV, and COVID-19, though authorities have repeatedly warned of its dangers. While Kennedy hasn’t openly endorsed bleach as a treatment, his praise for “looking at all of the different remedies” during his hearing has given advocates renewed hope.
Michelle Herman, a bleach product seller, said, “We are thrilled that RFK Jr. is in charge,” and shared that she had direct discussions with him about the solution. Critics like Fiona O’Leary warn this movement is “like watching a horror show,” given the toxic effects of ingesting bleach and/or chlorine dioxide (they are not the same thing).
Adding fuel to the fire, a key FDA warning about chlorine dioxide was quietly removed from the agency’s website in May, interpreted by supporters as a victory paving the way for wider acceptance. Despite this, public health officials maintain the solution’s dangers remain unchanged.
This resurgence comes alongside the presence of convicted promoters of bleach cures who have reentered the scene, as well as continued efforts to push chlorine dioxide into mainstream health conversations, sparking concern among medical experts and regulators.
Source: WIRED
Science is DEAD here in the US.
Congressional Stock Frenzy Amid Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs Sparks Ethics Debate
As President Trump unleashed sweeping tariffs in early April, over a dozen House lawmakers and their families executed more than 700 stock trades, raising fresh concerns about conflicts of interest in Capitol Hill trading. This flurry of buying and selling happened during one of the most volatile market periods in recent memory, spotlighting the blurred lines between lawmakers’ private investments and public policy actions.
The trades, disclosed between April 2 and April 8, targeted major firms like JPMorgan Chase and MKS Instruments for purchases, while stocks like Honeywell and Visa were sold off heavily. Notably, lawmakers who have publicly advocated for trading restrictions, including Reps. Ro Khanna and Rob Bresnahan, were among the most active traders.
The S&P 500 plunged more than 4.5% during this “Liberation Week,” wiping out trillions in market value, only to rebound sharply after Trump announced a pause on tariffs. This rollercoaster amplified scrutiny of lawmakers’ stock activity, fueling bipartisan efforts to clamp down on trading practices that critics argue undermine public trust.
Rep. Seth Magaziner called the episode a “reminder that the opportunity for insider trading by members of Congress is very real, very toxic and needs to be eliminated,” as Congress nears negotiations on a bill to restrict stock trading by lawmakers and their families.
While some lawmakers claimed their trades were managed by independent advisers or blind trusts, others, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, openly bought stocks that gained value during the turmoil, fueling debate over the adequacy of current disclosure and ethics rules.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
If I were to run for (and win a seat in) Congress, one of the first bills I’d propose would be that my colleagues and I could not OWN any securities, other than what’s in our retirement accounts. We couldn’t trade while we held office. It’s a small price to pay for objectivity. I don’t want Congress trading on information the public doesn’t have the same access to. It’s just wrong.